Environmental Portraiture

Submit a photograph of a person in their daily environment. -- While the main subject is a person, the secondary subject is their environment. For example, you can photograph a pilot in the cockpit, a chef in the kitchen, an artist in the studio, a mechanic in the garage, or anyone at their home.

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Announced:

Thursday, 9th June, 2011 (GMT)

Submissions:

Thursday, 16th June, 2011 –
Wednesday, 22nd June, 2011
(GMT)

Voting:

Thursday, 23rd June, 2011 –
Wednesday, 29th June, 2011
(GMT)

Processing rules:

Minimal post-processing. This challenge is an exercise in straight photography.

Capture date rules:

No restrictions.

Additional rules:

Please follow dpreview's guidelines for images.

Quality portraits are typically taken with mild telephoto lenses, but environmental portraits typically need wider-angle lenses to get the whole view. Be sure not to have odd perspective distortion of your subject.

The environment ought to tell us something about your subject, but it should not distract or overwhelm the person.

The environment ought to add interest to your photo.

A benefit is that your subject is likely to be more at ease than at a studio. Use this relaxation to good effect. Your subject should not be working in the photo.

Portraits are often taken with shallow depth of field, but in this challenge the background should have enough significance to be in focus along with the subject.

Older persons seem to be the best subjects for this kind of photography, since their surroundings will likely incorporate much of their personality.

Like most portraits, be sure to get a good view of your subject's eyes.

Your complaint (along with the complaints of others regarding this entry) will be
reviewed by the challenge owner. Depending upon the nature and applicability of the
complaint, the entry may be disqualified. In extreme circumstances the user who submitted
the entry may receive a ban from the challenge or series in question.